WASHINGTON — During the period from 2005 to 2014, an average of 3.2 million persons age 12 or older experienced one or more nonfatal violent victimizations each year, the Bureau of Justice Statistics announced today. About 1 in 5 of these victims (19 percent) experienced repeat victimization, defined as two or more violent victimizations during the year.

Repeat victims accounted for a disproportionate percentage of all violent victimizations that occurred each year. In 2014, the 19 percent of violent crime victims who experienced repeat victimization accounted for 50 percent of all violent victimizations.

The concentration of victimizations was more pronounced among victims who experienced six or more violent crimes during the year. In 2014, five percent of victims experienced six or more violent victimizations and accounted for more than a quarter (27 percent) of total violent victimizations that year.

Findings are from BJS's National Crime Victimization Survey, which collects data on violent victimizations, including rape and sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault, both reported and not reported to police.

The report, Repeat Violent Victimization, 2005-14 (NCJ 250567) describes the characteristics of victims of repeated violent crime and the types of violence they experienced during the year. It was written by BJS statisticians Barbara A. Oudekerk and Jennifer L. Truman. The report, related documents and additional information about BJS's statistical publications and programs can be found on the BJS website at www.bjs.gov.

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The Office of Justice Programs, headed by Acting Assistant Attorney General Alan R. Hanson, provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking (SMART). More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.